An update was pushed to Chrome Beta on Android this morning, but the real story here might be the new screenshots that Google included alongside it. The screenshots are clearly taken from a tablet running Android L, only this build of Android L has some noticeable tweaks that we are not currently found in the Android L preview.

If you look closely, you will see new status icons in the notification bar, one being the WiFi icon which lacks separators for WiFi signal and is instead just a solid indicator. The font also seems to have shrunken, something noted by Myce earlier in the week.

Better yet, we are finally seeing the new grey/lighter skin for the Android L keyboard in the wild. Previously, we had only seen this new keyboard in Material Design mock-ups, but this appears to be a keyboard that is baked in and ready for action.

On a related note, you will see matching screenshots in the Chrome Beta listing from a phone, but the phone is not running this newer build.

I see the time as 2:30, so this is obviously a chrome beta build for gingerbread…

The Dude

Wtf is wrong with Google?? Why are they switching to a light theme everywhere? Dark is much more elegant and looks better.

JSo

I used to always use dark themes and make everything black. Now, for some reason, I think it looks cheap. I can’t explain it.

FritoDorito

Yeah, what the hell, Google?! How dare you not agree with my subjective opinion!

This shouldn’t be all that surprising. Material Design isn’t just for Android, it’s for all of Google’s services. Google’s design language has always been lighter and more colorful. All Android L is doing is bringing Android’s design in line with Google’s other services. The previous dark theme was mostly an Android thing that originated from the 1.0 days. While Duarte certainly did a good job of polishing it and making it look great, it was only a matter of time before Google had it conform to their color scheme.

interstellarmind

No more voice input icon? No more separate letter keys?

I’m all for change and embracing new things… But this Android L keyboard is NOT winning any points for me so far.

P.S. I love Google’s secretly strategic “leaks” like this in order to generate buzz (not being sarcastic – I love their word of mouth, viral marketing).

JSo

The keyboard is the same it has always been, just white. The voice icon is in the search bar.

Daniel Thomas

It’s not even close to the same as the current Kit Kat keyboard. Right now the keyboard is black with individual grey buttons.

JSo

All that’s different are the colors. It’s basically just white buttons on a white background. The keyboard itself is still the same. Just a different theme. But if you don’t like it, there is an option to use the old look still if you choose. At least that’s how it is in the Preview build right now. The keyboard has three themes right now that you can choose from.

senor_heisenberg

These screens in the Chrome app pages have been there for weeks now. They first changed the screens during one of the last few Chrome Beta updates.

Yes…. we’ve seen those notification bar icons. How about dialer, messaging, and music?

JSo

The more curious thing about the messaging app is that Nexus devices don’t come with a messaging app other than Hangouts. So the question is, what app is that? Are they going back to having a messaging app separate from Hangouts?

TheFirstUniverseKing

It’s probably a new version of Google Voice.

JSo

I wouldn’t think they would do anything with Google Voice since they merged it with Hangouts now. Plus, Hangouts isn’t even shown there. But then again, this could be totally fabricated by some random person and not even an actual screenshot of Android L. Where did this come from anyway?

Well now you know that it wasn’t “some random person”. I’m pretty sure hangouts is here to stay. That icon could be a discrepancy or could be something else. I doubt a new default messaging app is coming to replace hangouts.

Daniel Grabowski

Think about this for a second. Right now Google forces you to use Hangouts or a 3rd Part SMS app on Nexus devices. With other OEMs, they’ll include stock AOSP sms app (Motorola) or a customized variant of that (Samsung, LG, HTC). While I like having everything integrated, it bothers me that my app I mostly use for SMS is called “Hangouts”. With all the talk of Google moving away from G+ (or at least splitting up it’s best features ie. hangouts, photos) I would think they’ll stop calling it hangouts (not as known of a name as “FaceTime” or “Skype” and just have a “Messaging” app. This Messaging app would still function as it does now with hangouts, handling SMS, hangouts, and G Voice. That would explain the new icon. This also allows other OEMs to customize the Messaging app with their skins etc. (as sad as it is) and still have all that functionality.

JSo

I don’t think they will get rid of the Hangouts name. It’s more than just a messaging app. It’s a service like skype for video calling and works on more than just a phone. They’ve put a lot into that app/service so I don’t think they are going to be getting rid of it.

Daniel Grabowski

I don’t think they’re getting rid of the service. The functionality of the app will still be the same. But instead of calling it “Hangouts” they’ll call it Messaging. Give it a more neutral tone (maybe a blue color seeing that icon) but still allow it to “message your friends” or you can send them a video chat request to “hangout”. When I think of hanging out, I don’t think of messaging them. I see face to face, and hanging out on a phone face to face is video chat. If you look at Hangouts now, click on a contact and it asks you how you want to interact with them. Call: phone #, G Voice #, or video. Message: SMS, G Voice SMS, Hangout (IM). It’s blatantly obvious that to someone who hasn’t used hangouts as their SMS (A LOT OF PEOPLE) that pushing them to use Hangouts is a negative. But include Hangouts in a Messaging app (THAT YOUR MINORITY TECH SAVVY PEOPLE USING HANGOUTS AS SMS CAN FIGURE OUT) is the easier of two options.

JSo

Yeah, but I still don’t see them dropping the name. I think they like it too much. lol

velocipedes

It’s someone’s artistic render. Why has no one realized this yet…

Andrew Roth

It’s just a concept.

Allen Kowal

That’s a nifty wallpaper, anyone have the sauce for it?

JSo

It’s been around since the release of the Android L dev preview. Just search google for Android L wallpaper

Yup…been a problem on every phone I’ve had recently…Samsung, lg, HTC & Motorola’s.

jcStrabo

I don’t have any, except for devices older than 2 years (SGS 2, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 10). But then I have slight scrolling stutters on my 2 years old iPad 4 too, so that’s rather age than anything elese.

velocipedes

Never had a problem on my Nexus 5. Maybe it’s your phone that’s the problem.

mcdonsco

Been a problem on my current g2, previous s5, m8, n3 and maxx…

jamdev12

Yes please elaborate?

mcdonsco

See above.

Clift

Not digging the navigation icons

BigTimmay

Yeah I’m hoping that’ll change come final release. Actually, I’m damn near confident they will.
It’s a good way to differentiate between the preview release and the actual release, whenever that may be.

Clift

I dunno… They’re paying screenshots with it. The thing about change is this: you have to change but big changes like this almost seen arbitrary and end up alienating the end user. Unless there’s a very good reason for it, and even then it may not work. That’s why the manufacturers make their ugly skins stagnant. Imagine how much backlash LG or HTC would get off they offered an update to the GS5 from kitkat to L and the nab buttons changed that much? I kinda guess that means Motorola is screwed if they end up staying that way.

Bionic

the numbers on top of letters

JSo

Good eye

BeLogical

Those are there now. I wish they would put them as as separate row like Samsung has. that is the only thing I like about Samsung’s keyboard though.

JSo

Actually, that looks like its just showing what it is if you long press it. That’s what it is now.

Guest

Well I’ll tell you what I DON’T see…the reload icon back where it should be. It’s doubly annoying, because when you open a previous tab, it refreshes. But doesn’t reload. So you have to press the menu to get to the X. That closes the menu, meaning you have to press again to get to the reload icon. Who thought this was a good idea? Does anyone need to see a few extra URL characters? Or white space?

Prime7

I see a microphone, though. Maybe we’ll be able to tell it to reload, via “OK Google. Reload.”

And yes, I think that’s as stupid as you probably do, too.

Guest

(Note, I do see the icon, but not where it should be if it’s coming back to the phone layout)

cadtek91

Pretty sure, Reload and Refresh are the same thing…

miri

I think he means it load a (potentially outdated) cache of the page rather than downloading it again.

Guest

You are exactly right. Am I missing something? is there a gesture for reloading/refreshing that I’m missing?

miri

Swipe left from the menu button (auto opens the menu, triggers whatever option you release on)

Daeshaun

it’s going to be pull down to refresh for the sake of consistency.

Guest

Do we have confirmation on that? I would be OK with that, if true. But why not put that in AFTER moving the icon? You’re training people for short-term behaviors, it’s amateurish.

Daeshaun

no lol i’m just bullshittin

Jprime

that would be awesome, but wouldn’t it make it hard to scroll?

sirmeili

I’m confused…it’s right there third from the left (Same place as in the Desktop version). Or am I missing something?

jamdev12

No. You ain’t missing not’ing. Someone else is though.

Guest

I clarified below I was talking about the phone version.

jamdev12

Relax. I was just kidding.

Guest

Yeah, I apologize for really flying into a rage with my response. I hope this doesn’t impart deep psychological pain that prevents you from ever joking on the internet again.

HarvesterX

Use the xposed module App Settings and change the resolution to the highest or second to highest (not dpi) for Chrome and you’ll get the tablet interface with the refresh button there and looks just like it does in the screenshots (for the phone version)

apjans

Oh man… this so much. I was way more irritated by that than I should be over a browser update 😛